News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-05-05

wheel, and swung and pulled herself up
bv the drivers side. l crawled inside,
abashed and rebuked. But on this
memorable day of which I write found
myself IN undisputed possession of the
coveted seat.
Leadville was eayer then than it is
now; gayer than it will ever be again.
1t was, indeed, in the full enjoyment of
is mighty bat evanescent boom. The
gods were smiling son it. Prosperity
reigned. Everybody was happy, and
was about rs happy rs any one else, II
had totally failed to come into posses
sion of any of the "big strikes" daily
being made.
1 was doing reportolial work on
LeadviIle daily paper. The managing
editor wanted some one to go to Inde-
pendence, a small but somewhat pro
missing camp over the range a days
journey, In midwinter, from Leadville.
The sun was well up III a perfectly
clear sky before we started. There was
"an eager and nipping air, y as Ipoeti--
cally remarked to Scotty, the stage
driver. His reply was not so poetical-
"Yaas, he said, ''it's mighty doggon
cold"
But it was the dry, crisp kind OF cold
weather not hard to endure, and COM
mon only in high attitudes.
There were few passengers. TwOmen
and woman had the inside of the coach
entirely to themselves. 1 was the only
outside passenger.
We left Harrison Avenue, and went
down Leadville's gay Chestnut Street
at very smart gait, Scottv fourishing
his whip gracefully and making the lash
crack in uncomfortable proximity to the
red ears of the urchins trying to hang on
behind.
We went on very rapidly after the last
cabin and shaHty in the desolate suburbs
had been left behind. Scotty handled
the reins well, and fancied that he was
doing some special showing off for my
benefit.
He sent the lead horses gracefully
around curves in the road. The rock
ing of the coach was as even and gentle
as that OF q boat ON the light waves OF
the sea. There was grace and strength
in the way Scotty held these lines, in the
quick, graceful curve of his arm as he
skillfully cut the keen air with the lash
of his whip. and brought it near enough
10 IIlt O1 lCttllCI . ttAl W lliftfAC INC
sprightly animal shake its head angrily
and step forward at a livelier gait.
We drove down through Malta, Lead
yille's nearest suburb; wretched httl'
village, but about as attractive in it
general appearance as its boastful ant
more prosperous big sister higher up ol
the barren, rocky hills.
The wretched log cabins and boar'
shanties we passed after leaving Malt
added nothing to the picturesqueness o
the valley and the near mountain rang
before us. / was glad when we wer
out of sight of every human habitation
and had before us nothing but the wide
snow-covered Arkansas Valley and tn
long mountain range, rising peak afte
peak, one long, uneven, but unbroken
snow-white line, 50 clearly and beautl
fully outlined against the blue sky
The sun WAS just above their snow
summits. Their white crests sparkle
and glistened in its light. The wide
smooth valley lay before us; we droy
down its center over the smooth, whit
roads, the driver was talkative. Mos
stage drivers are so, He told me he ma
been " "handlin the ribbons" on Rock
Mountain roads fever since 49," b